The seasonally adjusted Australian unemployment rate decreased0.1 percentage points to 4.9 per cent in March, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

The ABS reported the number of people employed increased 37,800 people to 11.457 million in March. The increase in employment was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 32,100 people to 8.106 million, and an increase in part-time employment, up 5,700 people to 3.351 million.

The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,200 people to 592,900 in March.

The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in March, up 13.1 million hours to 1618.3 million hours.

Labour force participation was 65.8 per cent in March, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from February.